Treasury Sanctions an Alleged Top Sinaloa Cartel Operative

The Wall Street Journal on March 6, 2012 released the following:

“Treasury Sanctions Top Sinaloa Cartel Operative

By Samuel Rubenfeld

The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said Tuesday it imposed sanctions Jesus Reynaldo Zambada Garcia, a man described as a key operative in Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel, along with two Mexican companies for their ties to one of Sinaloa’s drug lords.

The action, taken under the Kingpin Act, freezes any U.S. assets and bans Americans from conducting transactions with them.

Jesus Reynaldo Zambada Garcia controlled a drug trafficking route via the Mexico City International Airport on behalf of his brother, Ismael, who was designated under the Kingpin Act in 2002. Jesus Reynaldo was arrested by Mexico in October 2008 and is awaiting extradition to the U.S., Treasury said.

“OFAC continues to target Ismael Zambada Garcia and his drug trafficking and money laundering network to cripple their influence and deny them access to the U.S. financial system,” said Adam Szubin, in a statement.

Also Tuesday, Treasury designated two Culiacan-based businesses for being owned or controlled by Zynthia Borboa Zazueta, who was sanctioned by OFAC in May 2007.

The companies, Zarka de Occidente S.A. de C.V., is an agricultural firm, and Zarka de Mexico S.A. de C.V., is a retail clothing and accessories business.

OFAC also deleted and changed some names on its blacklist; the full rundown of Tuesday’s moves is here.”

Douglas McNabb and other members of the U.S. law firm practice and write and/or report extensively on matters involving Federal Criminal Defense, INTERPOL Red Notice Removal, International Extradition and OFAC SDN Sanctions Removal.

The author of this blog is Douglas McNabb. Please feel free to contact him directly at mcnabb@mcnabbassociates.com or at one of the offices listed above.